James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi provides his recipe for celebration rice with saffron—a deeply flavorful dish that you can serve alongside an array of proteins or enjoy on its own.

Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s Celebration Rice with Saffron Recipe

As Chef Yotam Ottolenghi explains, celebration rice is any preparation of rice that celebrates rice. Many versions of celebration rice exist around the world. Chef Yotam’s recipe features basmati rice, saffron, golden raisins, barberries, apple cider vinegar, and more ingredients. 
Known as the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is a spice derived from the flower stigmas of the saffron crocus plant (aka Crocus sativus), a member of the iris family. Native to the Asia Minor region, most saffron (85 percent) is now produced in Iran and used for culinary purposes as well as for medicine, dyes, and perfumes. 
Saffron rice is a side dish made from long grain rice (like [jasmine rice](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-jasmine-rice-tips-and-easy-recipe), joha rice, or basmati rice), [saffron](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-saffron-learn-about-the-culinary-uses-and-benefits-of-saffron), and often, a vegetable broth or stock made from bouillon. Like [coconut rice](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/coconut-rice-recipe) (white rice simmered in [coconut milk](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk)), the main method of cooking saffron rice is boiling it on the stovetop rather than steaming.
The beauty of rice lies in its versatility; it can be a humble side dish or stand in the spotlight. Here are some tips to ensure a great result:

1. __Soak the rice beforehand__. Soak the rice for at least half an hour (or up to overnight) before cooking it to make it light and fluffy. 
2. __Avoid overmixing the rice__. Don’t overmix the cooked rice after adding the saffron. Maintaining distinct sections of yellow and white rice adds visual appeal to the dish.
3. __Serve with a main course or accompaniments__. Saffron rice lacks some of the stickiness of steamed rice, but it makes for a dynamic complement to many main courses. In Thailand, saffron rice is popular alongside roasted chicken. Pair it with roasted vegetables, a fried egg, or serve it as part of a mezze spread. 
James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi provides his recipe for celebration rice with saffron—a deeply flavorful dish that you can serve alongside an array of proteins or enjoy on its own.

As Chef Yotam Ottolenghi explains, celebration rice is any preparation of rice that celebrates rice. Many versions of celebration rice exist around the world. Chef Yotam’s recipe features basmati rice, saffron, golden raisins, barberries, apple cider vinegar, and more ingredients.

What Is Celebration Rice?

Known as the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is a spice derived from the flower stigmas of the saffron crocus plant (aka Crocus sativus), a member of the iris family. Native to the Asia Minor region, most saffron (85 percent) is now produced in Iran and used for culinary purposes as well as for medicine, dyes, and perfumes.

What Is Saffron?

Saffron rice is a side dish made from long grain rice (like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-jasmine-rice-tips-and-easy-recipe' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-jasmine-rice-tips-and-easy-recipe","linkCopy":"jasmine rice","category":null}'>jasmine rice</a>, joha rice, or basmati rice), <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-saffron-learn-about-the-culinary-uses-and-benefits-of-saffron' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-saffron-learn-about-the-culinary-uses-and-benefits-of-saffron","linkCopy":"saffron","category":null}'>saffron</a>, and often, a vegetable broth or stock made from bouillon. Like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/coconut-rice-recipe' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/coconut-rice-recipe","linkCopy":"coconut rice","category":null}'>coconut rice</a> (white rice simmered in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk","linkCopy":"coconut milk","category":null}'>coconut milk</a>), the main method of cooking saffron rice is boiling it on the stovetop rather than steaming.

How to Make Saffron Rice

The beauty of rice lies in its versatility; it can be a humble side dish or stand in the spotlight. Here are some tips to ensure a great result:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Soak the rice beforehand. Soak the rice for at least half an hour (or up to overnight) before cooking it to make it light and fluffy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Avoid overmixing the rice. Don’t overmix the cooked rice after adding the saffron. Maintaining distinct sections of yellow and white rice adds visual appeal to the dish. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Serve with a main course or accompaniments. Saffron rice lacks some of the stickiness of steamed rice, but it makes for a dynamic complement to many main courses. In Thailand, saffron rice is popular alongside roasted chicken. Pair it with roasted vegetables, a fried egg, or serve it as part of a mezze spread. </li></ol>

3 Tips for Making Saffron Rice

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Celebration Rice with Saffron Recipe

James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi provides his recipe for celebration rice with saffron—a deeply flavorful dish that you can serve alongside an array of proteins or enjoy on its own.

James Beard Award–winning chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi provides his recipe for celebration rice with saffron—a deeply flavorful dish that you can serve alongside an array of proteins or enjoy on its own.
